Automatic clamp



"April 12, 1949,

G. W. PERIMAN AUTOMATIC CLAMP Filed June 12, 1948 "mImI Q i 1 ZSrwentor 6L ENA/ W'pEE/MAA/ (Ittomeg Patented Apr. 12, 1949 AUTOMATIC I CLAMP Glenn Periman, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor to 'poration'of California Application June 12, 1948,-Serial No. 32,671

4 Claims. '1

This invention relates to clamps; generally, and

more particularly to a C-clamp that is automatic togrip material between the jaws thereof after said jaws are separated and then released.

An object of the present invention is to provide a C-clamp of the character indicated that embodies one fixed jaw and an opposed spring-urged jaw that automatically seeks clamping engage- 'ment with the fixed jaw.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in a C-clamp'as'referred to, a slidable jaw that is spring-urged to seek a work-clamping position.

My invention also has for its objects to provide such means that are positive in operation, 'convenientin usefeasily installed in a working position and easily disconnected therefrom, economical of manufacture, relativelysimple, and of general superiority and 's'erviceability.

The invention also comprises novel details of construction and novel combinations and arrangements of parts, which will more fully appear in the course of the following description. However, the drawings merely show and the following description merely describes one embodiment of the present invention, which is given by way of illustration or example only.

In the drawings, like reference characters designate similar parts in the several views.

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view, partly in longitudinal section, of a C-clamp according to the instant invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan sectional view as taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

The illustrated embodiment of the clamp comprises, generally, a frame 5, a stem 6 extending from said frame and terminating in a knob 1, a slidable member 8 telescopically engaged with the stem, and a spring 9 for moving said member to effect clamping of Work W between it and the frame.

The frame 5 is C-shaped and is integrally formed with spaced substantially parallel arms I and H that are connected by a portion 12. The frame thus formed is substantially rigid, although slight fiexure of the arms, relatively, is immaterial. In its present form, the end of arm ll] is integrally formed with a jaw l3 that faces in the direction of arm H. The end of the latter arm is provided with a through bore I 4- for the stem 6.

The stem 6 comprises a preferably round rod or bar l that has a reduced portion l5 residing in bore M. The shoulder I! thus formed and the staked end l8 of the stem serve to rigidly mount the stem on the frame so that the former tion -2I, except that said section is open laterally Aircraft Tools, .Inc., Los An'geles,Ca1if.,' a corextends outwardly normal to arm H and, if extended, would pass through jaw l3. The outer .end of stem 6 is formed or provided with knob 1 and said knob has a somewhat domed top it to comfortably receive hand or finger pressure, although equally adapted to receive the pressure of one jaw of a tool, Said tool forms no part of this invention and is not shown. However, the

same will be more fully described hereinafter.

The member 8, atone end, is integrally formed with a jaw-20 that is opposed to jaw l3, has an integral section 2| of some length in which the end '22 of arm H resides, and beyond said section 2|, has an integral tubular part 23. The latter is formed with an outwardly facin cylindrical'seat 24 for spring 9, said spring having end engagement with'a transverse abutment wall 25.

The latte'r wall is'formed with a hole as through 'which'thejstem li passes. The tubular form of part "23 extends through and 'is continued in seeas at 21 to accommodate arm ll of the frame.

In practice, the part 23 is reduced in size at an intermediate part 28 to form an annular shoulder 29. However, this shoulder may be formed in other ways.

The spring 9 is of the coil type and has its ends confined between abutment wall 25 and knob 1!. Consequently, said spring, at all times seeks to expand and urge jaw 20 toward jaw l3. The expansive force of the spring is such that said jaws engage with sufficient pressure to clamp work 22 between them.

The tool above-mentioned is Well known and is shaped in the manner of pliers with on jaw bifurcated. In use, said tool is applied with the bifurcated jaw engaged with shoulder 29 and the other jaw engaged with the top of knob I. By applying a force to close the jaws of the pliers, the spring 9 is further compressed and the member 8 is slid along stem 6 to eifect separation of jaws l3 and 20. When the jaws are so opened, work may be placed between them. Upon release of the plier jaws, spring 9 becomes again effective to automatically move jaws l3 and'20 toward each other and thereby clamp work under pressure of the compressed spring 9, The clamp above set forth may, of course, be entirely manually operated, providing, however, that the clamp is not of such large size and the spring of such great force that such manual operation is precluded.

While I have illustrated and described What I now regard as the preferred embodiment of my invention, the construction is, of course, subject to modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. I, therefore, do not wish to restrict myself to the particular fomi of construction illustrated and described, but desire to avail myself of all modifications that may fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: 1. A clamp comprising a C-frame formed with substantially parallel spaced arms the end of one arm comprising a clamp jaw, a stem extending,

from the end of the other arm and provided with a knob at the outer end thereof, a member slidably mounted on the stem and having a jaw at that end which is directed toward the jawon'the frame, and a coil spring around the stem having one end abutted against the member and the other end against the knob for urging said member in a direction to close the jaws.

2. A clamp comprising a C-frame formed with substantially parallel spaced arms the end of one arm comprising a clamp jaw, a stem extending from the end of the other arm and provided with a knob at the outer end thereof, a member slidably mounted in the stem and having a jaw at that end which is directed toward the jaw on the frame, and a coil spring around the stem having one end abutted against the member and the other end against the knob for urging said member in a direction to close the jaws, said slidable member having the end opposite to the jaw formed with an outwardly facing cylindrical seat for housing at least part of said spring.

3. A clamp comprising a C-frame formed with substantially parallel spaced arms the end of one arm comprising a-clamp jaw, a stem extending from the end of the other arm and provided with a knob at the outer end thereof, a member slidably mounted on the stem and having a jaw at that end which is directed toward the jaw on the frame, and a coil spring around the stem having Number of the spring toward the knob and thereby separate the jaws.

4. A clamp comprising a C-frame formed with substantially parallel spaced arms the end of one arm comprising a clamp jaw, a stem extending from the end of the other arm and provided with "a knob at the outer end thereof, a member slid- "ably mounted on the stem and having a jaw at that end which is directed toward the jaw on the frame, and a coil spring around the stem having one end abutted against the member and the other end against the knob for urging said member in a direction to close the jaws, said slidable member, between its jaw and the spring abutment thereof being formed with a laterally open elongated portion to accommodate that portion of the frame arm that carries the stem.

GLENN W. PERIMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The. following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Eyster June 12, 1883 Reynolds Feb. 9, 1897 Kellogg Apr. 6, 1943 Wallace et al. May 18, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain Oct. 15, 1917 Number 

